Method and apparatus for handling of a person in a rocking movement in relation to a bed

ABSTRACT

A process and an arrangement handles a person in a rocking movement on a couch relative a base by means of pressure medium driven actuating means in the couch. The couch is converted from a substantially planar or slightly bent starting position, with the person resting against the couch to a C-shaped holding position, bent about the longitudinal axis of the person. The person is rocked relative to the base in a rocking movement from side to side on the base maintained in aid C-shaped holding position.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for moving aperson in a rocking movement on a couch in relation to a base bypressure medium driven actuating means.

The present invention accordingly relates to a method for moving aperson in a rocking movement on a couch relative to a base by means ofpressure medium driven actuating means incorporated in the couch,including supporting the person on the couch and converting the couch bymeans of the pressure medium driven actuating means from a substantiallyplanar or slightly bent starting position to a C-shaped holdingposition, including allowing the person to be enveloped in a holdinggrip over an arc angle of about 180° in the C-shaped holding position ofthe couch, followed by rocking the person about its longitudinal axisfrom side to side over the base.

The present invention further relates to an apparatus for moving aperson in a rocking movement on a couch relative to a base, includingsaid couch and said base and a pressure medium driven actuating means,said means being incorporated in the couch, said couch being convertiblefrom a substantially planar or slightly bent starting position to aC-shaped holding position, by means of said actuating means, which meansallows the couch to envelope the person in a holding grip over an arcangle of about 180° in the C-shaped holding position of the couch andallows the person to be rocked about his longitudinal axis from side toside relative to the base.

The method and apparatus according to the invention are designed inparticular for moving a person/patient in a rocking movement on a base.The term “rocking” movement is understood to mean both a continuoussideways movement between two maximum outer positions and a stepwisemovement between two or more successive positions.

The actuating means are adapted first for gripping around a person inorder to hold him in a controlled holding grip, and thereaftersubjecting the person to a suitable sideways rocking movement with theperson maintained in said controlled holding grip.

The rocking movement may be employed for various purposes in connectionwith the physical activation of the person/patient lying in a positionof rest. For example, the arrangement may be used for patients withdiminished physical or diminished mental activity. In addition, thearrangement may be used on patients, who in a lying position, are proneto the occurrence of bed sores or other irritations in connection withtheir limited ability to move. When a patient is moved in a nursingsituation, it is especially important to turn the patient an arbitraryangle of rotation about his longitudinal axis. An angle of rotation ofinterest may be 0-90° or more. The movement may take place in arelatively slow, rhythmic movement or in a more staggered ortime-intermittent rocking movement. An aim is to be able to move theperson in a controlled, reliable manner, but at the same time in aparticularly adapted, comfortable and not intimidating manner.

A method and apparatus of the aforementioned type is shown and describedin WO 95/10997. A blanket-like arrangement designed with a number ofchambers mutually joined together and running parallel in thelongitudinal direction of the blanket is illustrated therein. Thechambers are arranged in two facing chamber groups, e.g. with onechamber group on each side of a common middle section. The chambergroups can be bent and straightened in groups or separately betweenplanar and slightly bent contours and an almost J-shaped contour.Alternatively, the chamber groups may be bent collectively toward andaway from each other, i.e., from substantially planar or slightly curvedcontour to a very curved, almost U-shaped contour.

In this embodiment the user is subjected to a rocking movement byactivating one half of the apparatus at a time. More specifically, thepatient may be swung from lying on his back to lying on his side byactivating one half of the bed couch, and returned to his back bybringing the half of the couch back to its starting position. Equivalentrocking onto the other side may be carried out using the other half ofthe couch arrangement, thus giving the sideways rocking movement.

Alternatively, the bed couch may be brought into a U-shaped contouraround the bedridden to hold him securely on his back. In this case, thecontrolled rocking movement of the bedridden will not take place.

In an alternative embodiment of this reference the bedridden may besubjected to a rocking movement in a U-shaped bed couch via an extrapivot axis arranged at a level above the bottom of the bed. In practice,the level of the pivot axis above the bottom of the bed will limit thepossibility for pivoting the bed couch relative to the bed bottom. Thelevel at which the pivot axis is placed is consequently determinative ofthe rocking possibilities for the U-shaped bed couch.

Normally, the rocking movement can only occur at a moderate pivot, ortilting, angle of up to 20° between the maximum positions. Even with thepivot axis arranged at a considerable height above the bottom of thebed, only a rather limited tilting angle is possible for the bed couch.The rocking movement is effected by means of extra air cushions, whichare all arranged on opposite sides of the pivot axis between the bottomof the bed and the bed couch, by alternately filling and emptying theair cushions one after the other.

There may in many cases be a need for larger pivot angle for reasons oftreatment or movement, with a controlled holding grip around the person,especially for the maximum tilted positions. There is generally a needto hold a person at a low level above the base to be able to move theperson easily and securely in contexts other than during the tiltingmovement itself.

In certain contexts the such a pivot axis represents designcomplications in connection with the base, such that it may be difficultto perform the rocking movement in a rational way on different bases andespecially in sickbeds with sectionally swingable bed couches, forexample on sickbeds with socalled “heart boards”.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which iseasy to use with nearly any base, and which allows for arbitrarily largerocking movements. For example, it is an object of the present inventionto perform one single swing movement between the maximum positions atswing arches of 90-180° if necessary.

The method of the present invention is characterized in that pressuremedium driven actuating mean changes the couch from a substantiallyplanar or slightly curved starting position, with the person/patientresting on the couch, to a holding position curved around theperson/patient's longitudinal axis, with the person kept in a holdinggrip through a swing arc of up to 180°, whereupon the person in theholding grip of the couch is rocked in relation to the base in asideways rocking movement.

Correspondingly, the apparatus according to the invention in that thecouch can be converted from a predominantly planar or slightly curvedstarting position, with the person lying on the couch, to a position inwhich there exists a holding grip around the person's longitudinal axis,by a pressure medium driven actuating means, with the person envelopedin an engagement grip having an arc of 180°, and in that the couch inthis holding position may be moved by pressure-medium driven actuatingmeans in a sideways rocking movement in relation to the base.

According to the invention the patient/person may be subjected to asideways rocking movement in relation to the base with a relatively lowcenter of gravity for the person relative to the base and without theuse of a space demanding pivot axis. By replacing the known pivot ortilting movement with a rocking movement an especially beneficialsolution is achieved, which can easily be adapted to existing baseswithout significant construction complications. In other words, thesolution may be applied on conventional bases in conventional beds aswell as on specially designed bases, for example on hospital beds.

The apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention ischaracterised in that the couch, which is made into the aforementionedC-shaped holding grip by a first set of pressure-medium driven actuatingmeans, may be rocked directly on an associated base, controlled by asecond set of actuating means without the use of pivot axis.

Thus, by omitting the pivot mechanism between the bed couch and the bedbase according to a controlled rocking movement of said C-shaped bedcouch by said second set of actuating mean can be achieved without theuse of a pivot axis. This is achieved by placing the bed couch so thatit moves with support directly against the base, i.e. at the lowestpossible level on the bed couch. By using said set of actuating means,an effective control of the rocking movement of the bed couch betweenthe two maximum positions can be ensured.

The apparatus according to the invention may in general be used inconnection with various types of gripping mean according to theinvention. There is herein, however, discussion about pressure mediumdriven gripping means and especially compressed airdriven grippingmeans, for example the gripping means shown in WO 95/10997.Hydraulically or pneumatically driven gripping means are preferred intechniques illustrated and disclosed in European patents Nos. 478.542,479.778 and 555.306.

A particularly preferred solution of the apparatus is characterised inthat the actuating means are common means for converting the couch,between a substantially planar or slightly bent position to a heavierbent, C-shaped cradle-formed holding position and for controlling thecouch in a rolling movement backwards and forwards on or relative to thebase.

The above mentioned arrangement may be used to convert the bed couch toa C shape by one and the same set of actuating means and thereafter movethe bed couch relative to the base to provide the said side to siderocking movement to the patient.

Further features of the apparatus according to the invention will beevident from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows schematically an apparatus according to the inventionincluding an associated regulating device.

FIG. 2 shows schematically in perspective certain details of theapparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows in perspective a segment of FIG. 2 and the mutual placementof the gripping means of the apparatus, shown in an inactivatedready-for-use state.

FIGS. 4-5 show schematically a cross-section of a rocking movement for apatient who is enveloped by gripping means as shown in FIGS. 1-3, withthe gripping means illustrated in a fully activated state.

FIGS. 6-7 show a cross-section corresponding to FIGS. 4-5 of a somewhatmodified embodiment of the gripping means according to FIGS. 4-5.

FIG. 8 shows a gripping means of a first embodiment in two maximum outerpositions, illustrated with full and broken lines respectively.

FIG. 9 shows the gripping means of a second embodiment illustratedpartly in section and partly in perspective.

FIG. 10 shows in perspective an apparatus according to the invention inan actual use position illustrated in an inactivated state.

FIG. 11 shows in longitudinal section a segment of details of theapparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-section further details corresponding to thoseillustrated in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13-15 show a cradle-shaped apparatus according to an alternativeembodiment of the invention in three different positions.

FIG. 16 shows in plan a base for the arrangement according to FIGS.13-15.

FIG. 17 shows in plan a couch-forming component which forms a part ofthe arrangement of FIGS. 13-15.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show a detail of the arrangement according to FIGS.13-15, illustrated in segment and shown in two different actuatingpositions.

An arrangement 10 for moving a person in a rocking movement on a base isshown schematically in FIG. 1. The apparatus 10, herein also termed“patient turner”, is adapted to grip the person around the major part ofthe circumference of the body (patient's back and sides) at differentlocal regions in the longitudinal dimension of the person, to keep theperson in a secure and effective holding grip. Thereafter, thearrangement will allow the person to be subjected to a suitable sidewaysrocking movement about his longitudinal axis relative to the base. Therocking movement may occur over an arbitrary angle of rotation of, forexample, 0-180°, to and from the two maximum positions.

In addition to the aforementioned rocking movement, it may be necessaryto adjust the person into various sitting or resting positions, e.g., aposition suitable for eating, as indicated in the position shown in FIG.10.

In FIG. 1 the broken line illustrates schematically a control cabinetfor controlling the movements of components of the patient turner 10.The movable components of the patient turner 10 are operated by means ofcompressed air from a compressed air source, as shown by an arrow 1 viaa primary supply conduit 12 and secondary branch conduits 13 a, 13 b,which are each fitted with associated three-way control valves 14 a, 14b. Alternatively, pressure fluid may be used as a pressure medium. In afirst position, the control valves 14 a, 14 b may individually supplycompressed air in their respective conduits 15 a, 15 b, via a speed andpressure regulating valve 16 and their respective conduit connection 17a, 17 b, to a first and second pressure-medium circuit of the patientturner 10, such as will be described hereinafter.

In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 1, an especially simplearrangement is shown with only two control valves 14 a, 14 b andassociated compressed air conduits 13 a, 13 b; 15 a, 15 b; 17 a, 17 b,for leading compressed air to and from components of the patient turns10, thus bringing about a rocking movement of the patient relative tothe base.

The valve 16 which is common to the first and second pressure mediumcircuits is shown in the form of a manually regulated valve, so that thespeed of the movement and power of the movement of the patient turnermay readily be adapted as needed for each patient, depending on bodysize, state of health and treatment situation, etc. Alternatively, thevalve 16 may be controlled by a microprocessor or other control meanshaving an associated control program in a manner not shown further.

The three-way valves are controlled separately using a commonmicroprocessor 19, as shown schematically by the arrow lines 18 a and18. The microprocessor 19 is programmed for alternate opening andclosing of the valves 14 a and 14 b in different sequences individually,i.e. for the supply of compressed air from the source of compressed air11 to the patient turner 10 and for emptying discharge air from thepatient turner 10 from the respective valves 14 a, 14 b, via branchdischarge conduits 20 a and 20 b respectively to a principal dischargeconduit 21 for a suitable air discharge as indicated by the arrow 22.

The microprocessor is controlled, as indicated by an arrow 23, with theaid of a pressure sensor 24. The pressure sensor 24 is fed with pressuresignals via conduits 25 a, 25 b, 25 c from each of the three separatesections 10 a, 10 b, 10 c of the patient turner 10 shown herein. Inpractice, any number of separate sections of the patient turner may beemployed.

Instead of the relatively simple arrangement illustrated with a pair ofconduits 17 a and 17 b servicing the three illustrated sections 10 a-10c of the patient turner, a pair of such conduits may alternatively beemployed for each section 10 a-10 c, so that each section may beindividually controlled with a different force of engagement against thepatient, as needed. If desired, separate valves 14 a, 14 b can beemployed for each section so that they may be individually activated ordeactivated as require.

In FIG. 2, the patient turner 10 is shown in a ready-for-use state withpartially pressurized components. A base of a conventional bed isindicated with broken lines 26 with the patient turner 10 lying on thebase 26. As shown in FIG. 2, the patient turner 10 comprises asheet-shaped bottom member 27, which rests on the base 26. The bottommember 27 is fitted with elongated duct-shaped supporting means 28 and29 along the respective opposing longitudinal edge strips 27 a, 27 b,The support means 28, 29 each carry their respective group offinger-like gripping and holding means 30, 31 which constitute saidair-filled components of the patient turner 10.

A segment of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3. A first group of gripping andholding means 30 is shown projecting laterally outwards from anassociated first supporting means 28 in a first direction (from left toright in the drawing), while a second group of gripping and holdingmeans 31 correspondingly projects laterally outwards from an associatedsecond supporting means 29 in the opposite direction (from right to leftin the drawing). The means 30 and 31 are separately arranged with acertain sideways distance along the associated supporting means 28, 29,so that mutual intermediate spaces, 30 a and 31 a respectively, areformed. The finger like gripping and holding means 30, 31 are placedalternately between each other to form a more or less continuous couch32 on top of the patient turner 10.

A sheet 33 with an associated set of locally defined pockets 33 a and 33b along opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet is shown in FIG. 2, asthe outer free edges of the means 30 is received in a first set ofpockets 33 a, while the free outer edges of the means 31 are received ina second set of pockets 33 b. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2,the sheet 33 forms together with the underlying means 30, 31 said couch32 and ensures that the means 30 and 31 respectively are guided into aspecific engagement with each other. More specifically, the pockets 33 aensure that the means 30 are moved together in sections, while thepockets 33 b ensure that the means 31 are correspondingly moved togetherin sections. Separate sheet 33 may be readily removed for sterilizationor similar cleaning when required. At 30 b in FIG. 8 , a strip of Velcrofor fastening the means 30 in the inner portion of the associated pocket33 a is shown.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the sheet 33 may be replacedby two separate sheet strips, which are each fitted with pockets,corresponding to those shown for the sheet 33. For example, thepocket-carrying sheet strips may be permanently fastened independentlyof each other to the free outer edges of their respective group of means30 and 31. Alternatively, the sheet strips can be readily removed and,for example, may be retained during use with straps or other suitablefastening devices on the associated group of means 30,31.

In the pocket formation arising between the pockets 33 a, 33 b whichreceive the outer edges of the group of means 30,31, for example,cushion-forming spacing devices may be arranged, and these together withthe sheet 33 and the pockets 33 a,33 b may form a continuous edgesupport member for the respective group of means 30,31. A correspondingeffect may also be achieved by the use of spacing devices in the pocketformations in the separate pocket-carrying sheet strips.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 an end view of the patient turner 10 is shown, wherethe groups of gripping means 30,31 are illustrated by a single grippingmeans 30 and a single gripping means 31 in two opposite maximumpositions respectively. FIGS. 4 and 5 show stationary cushion formingedge stoppers 34 a and 34 b along opposite sides of the bottom member27, secured partly to the bottom member 27 and partly to the supportmeans 28,29. The edge stoppers 34 a,34 b prevent by dampening andbuttressing, the patient 35 swinging beyond the maximum positions asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the broken lines.

The maximum outer positions, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, areachieved by readjusting the valves 14 a and 14 b (FIG. 1) in the fillingposition and emptying position respectively in the first operatingsequence, and in an emptying position and filling position in a secondoperating sequence.

In a suitable starting position, as indicated in FIG. 2, the patient 35may, for example, have his back facing downwards towards the upper sideof the patient turner 10, whereupon both groups of means 30, 31 may bemoved collectively from the inactive position shown in FIG. 2 to anactivated, curved position, wherein the gripping means substantiallyenvelop the patient 35, while the patient still has his back facingdownwards. Thereafter, the tilting movement may be effected and side toside between the maximum outer positions, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Onerocking movement of the patient 35 is indicated in FIG. 4 by the arrowB1, while in FIG. 5 the arrow B2 indicates the second rocking movement.

A modified construction of the gripping means is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,illustrated by gripping means 30′ and 31′, which are fitted with athickened head portion 36 and 37 at the respective opposite ends of thegripping means. In such a case the edge stoppers 34 a,34 b as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, may be omitted if necessary. The rocking movement of thepatient 35 towards the maximum outer positions in FIGS. 6 and 7 areindicated by the arrows C1 and C2.

A perspective view of a cross-section of a gripping means 3 is shown inFIG. 8. The gripping means is made of a gas-tight cloth. The grippingmeans is made in the shape of an outer cover 38A, which comprises a toppart 38, a bottom part 39 and two opposite side parts 40,41.

The cover 38A is tailored in the shape shown in FIG. 8 with brokenlines. More specifically, provisions are made for the longitudinaldimension of the top part 38 to be considerably less than thelongitudinal dimension of the bottom part, while the side parts have acurved contour in the longitudinal direction. The top part 38 of cover38A is attached on the inside to a straight, elongated reinforcementdevice 42 in the form of a relatively thin, elastically yielding bladespring. The solid lines in FIG. 8 show the blade spring 42 in aninactivated, straight state and with the cover 38A in an equivalentinactivate state, i.e., non-pressure loaded. In the conditionillustrated by the broken lines, the cover 38A is shown in an activatestate, i.e. compressed air loaded, with maximum dilation of the walls40,41 and the bottom part 39 and the resulting bending of the bladespring 42 to a substantially semicircular shape against the inherentforce of the spring. On emptying compressed air from the cover 38A, thecover 38A returns from its activated shape, which is shown by the brokenlines, to an approximately straight shape, as shown by the solid lines,by means of the spring force of the blade spring 42. By regulating thefilling of the cover 38A with compressed air, the bending of thegripping means 30 may be correspondingly regulated and thereby therocking of the person will be regulated, since at the same time as thegroup of gripping means 30 is filled with compressed air, compressed airis emptied from the group of gripping means 31, and vice versa.

In an alternative construction, as illustrated in FIG. 9, cover 38B isshow with the blade spring 42 omitted and instead, a dividing wall 43placed in a plane essentially half-way between the top part 38 and thebottom part 39, so that an upper chamber 44 and a lower chamber 45 areformed. The top part 38, the bottom part 39 and the side parts 40,41 aretailored similarly to cover 38A, so that in two opposite positions thecover 38B can be given a shape corresponding to that shown in FIG. 8. Byloading the upper chamber 44 by compressed air and emptying the lowerchamber 45 of compressed air, the cover 38A may assume a positioncorresponding to that shown by the solid lines in FIG. 9. By emptyingthe upper chamber 44 of compressed air and filling the lower chamber 45with compressed air, the means 30′ will be made to curve, correspondingto that shown by the broken lines in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a patient turner 10 in the form of a bed couch havingthree separate sections 10 a, 10 b, 10 c that can swing about relativeto each other, i.e., a leg support section 10 a, a body support section10 b for support of the major portion of the body of the patient 35, anda third section 10 c, which forms a so-called “heart board” for thesupport of the head and shoulders of the patient 35. According to thisembodiment the patient turner 10 may be used in a conventional sickbed,where bottom parts of the patient turner 10 and the associated grippingmeans 30,31 form the bed couch itself. In such a case a separatemattress, as indicated by the broken lines 52 in FIG. 11, may be placedon top of the patient turner 10 to form a part of the bed couch. Inaddition there is shown in FIG. 11 an elastically yielding wedge-shapedinsert member 53, made for example from foam rubber, placed in theangular gap 54 between sections 10 b and 10 c.

The support means are, as shown in FIG. 11, divided into two separatesections 28 b and 28 c connected at their respective bottom partssections 10 b, 10 c, receiving a hose-shaped connection conduit 55 withassociated branch nipple 56 for each gripping means. The conduit 55 mayextend relatively tightly stretched between nipples 56 of the respectivesections, while the conduit, as shown at 55 may assume a more curvedcourse in the transition between each pair of support sections 28 b,28c.

FIG. 12 shows a section through the support means 28. The figure shows aremovable back piece 57 whereby access to the conduit 55 and associatednipples 5 can be provided. Included in the figure are screws 58, 59 forsecuring the support means 28 to the bottom plate 27 and ascrew-threaded nipple 56 with associated fastening nuts 60,61 togetherwith packing ring 62 for fastening the nipple 56 via a boring in theadjacent wall 63 of the support means 28. Each gripping means 30 isfitted with a flange 64 which, for example, is fixed by vulcanisation tosaid wall 63 of the support means 28.

FIGS. 13-15 show, in end view, an U-shaped cradle arrangement 65, as analternative embodiment of the cradle arrangement according to FIGS.1-12. The cradle arrangement 65 is shown in a middle starting positionin FIG. 13, in which the cradle arrangement rests against a base 66. Thebase 66 is fitted with cushion forming actuating means 67,68 which arepressurized using compressed air. In the maximum outer positionsillustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, one actuating means is pressurized whilethe remaining actuating means is relieved of pressure. By alternatingthe pressurizing and pressure relieving of the actuating means 67,68 thecradle arrangement 65 itself may readily be readjusted by moving itdirectly on the base 66. In other words, in this embodiment the cradlearrangement 65 may be moved on the base 66 with the aid of an extraactuating means 67,68.

A plan view of a base 66 having a first pair of actuating means 67 and asecond pair of actuating means 68 is shown in FIG. 16. The means 67 and68 may be controlled via their respective control valves by a controlinstallation corresponding to that shown in FIG. 1, indicated by doublearrows D and E.

The readjustment of the cradle arrangement 65 from an inactive,predominantly planar or slightly curved bed couch to a very curved bedcouch is carried out in this instance by actuating mean which arecontrolled independently of the actuating means 67,68 as will bedescribed below.

The cradle arrangement 65, shown generally in FIGS. 13-15 and in furtherdetail in the segments of FIGS. 17-19, is fitted with a bottom part 69,which consists of several strip-shape bottom sections 69 a, which arebound together in pairs and are relatively rigid. The bottom sections 69a are secured in pairs to intermediate, profile-shaped, rigidreinforcing means 70 to form a continuous jointed bottom part 69. Thebottom sections 69 a are fitted in this connection with opposing edgingribs 69 b, which are anchored in respective L-shaped cavities in a lowerbase part 70 a of the respective reinforcing means 70.

The top of the reinforcing means 7 is fitted with a head section 71 withan upward opening locking groove 7, as shown in FIGS. 18-19. Apipe-shaped locking member 73 and a turned about portion of a compressedair bag 74 are introduced endways into the locking groove 72. By meansof the locking member 73 and the cooperating locking grooves 72, bagsections 74 a of the compressed air bag 74 may be limited to a widthdimension substantially equivalent to the width dimension as shown forthe bottom sections 69 a. A schematic plan view of the compressed airbag 74 is shown in FIG. 17, wherein the bag sections 74 a are shownschematically in the form of parallel extending panels in thelongitudinal direction of the bag 74. In the illustrated embodiment, asingle compressed air bag 74 is shown, and this may constitute the wholeof the bed couch, but in practice an equivalent compressed air bag maybe employed in each of the sections 10 a, 10 b, 10 c as shown in FIG. 1.

The compressed air bag 74 is inflated with pressure medium via acompressed air conduit 75 with associated branch conduits 75 a, as shownin FIG. 17, and the bag sections 74 a are then inflated from theposition shown in FIG. 18 to the position shown in FIG. 19.

On as indicated by the double arrow 76 in FIG. 19, the bag sections willbulge out in the direction of the double arrow 76, while the head parts72 of the reinforcing means 70 are forced against each other by tractivepower to bring about a sideways contraction of the bag 74 relative tothe bottom part 69. In the position shown in FIG. 17, the bag 74 assumesan inactive, relatively planar position, corresponding to that shown inFIG. 18, while in the inflated position in FIG. 19, it assumes aposition corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 13-15.

What is claimed is:
 1. Process for handling of a person in a rockingmovement on a couch relative to a base employing a pressuremedium-driven actuating means in the couch, the couch is converted bymeans of the pressure medium driven actuating means from a substantiallyplanar or slightly bent starting position, with the person restingagainst the couch, to a C-shaped holding position bent about thelongitudinal axis of the person, with the person enveloped in a holdinggrip over an arc angle of about 180°, wherein the person enveloped inthe C-shaped holding position of the couch is moved relative to the basein a rocking movement from side to side without the use of a pivotalaxis.
 2. Arrangement for handing for a person in a rocking movement on abase employing a pressure medium-driven actuating means within a couch,the couch being convertible by means of pressure medium-driven actuatingmeans from a substantially planar or slightly bent starting position,with the person resting against the couch, to a C-shaped holdingposition bent about the longitudinal axis of the person, with the personenveloped in a holding grip over an arc angle of approximately 180°, thecouch in its C-shaped holding position is moveable by means of thepressure medium-driven actuating means in a rocking movement from sideto side without the use of a pivotal axis.
 3. Arrangement in accordancewith claim 2, wherein a C-shaped bed couch which is formed to a C-shapeby means of said actuating means is rollable directly on an associatedbase controlled by a second set of actuating means.
 4. Arrangement inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said actuating means converts the couchbetween a substantially planar or slight bent position to a bent,C-shaped cradle-forming holding position, and controls the couch in arocking movement from side to side.
 5. Arrangement in accordance withclaim 4, wherein said actuating means are in the form of a first andsecond group of chamber-shaped gripping means, each group of grippingmeans being fastened, individual gripping means by individual grippingmeans, to opposing side edges of a base, each individual gripping meanswithin each group extending side-by-side with mutual intermediate spacesformed between the respective fastened gripping means and projectingfreely outwards relative to the base in a direction towards therespective opposite side edge of the base, and positioned within thelaterally arranged intermediate spaces between the gripping means of theopposing group of gripping means, the two opposing groups of grippingmeans forming a common engagement zone with uniformly distributedengagement surfaces at respective opposite side edges of said base. 6.Arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of said first andsecond group of gripping means are adapted, by means of regulating meansto be readjusted from an inactive condition with largely planarextending or slightly bent gripping means to an activated condition withregulatably bent gripping means, the gripping means in the activatedcondition being adapted to envelop the person jointly in an elasticallyyielding manner, to form said engagement zone, while by means of theregulating means the gripping means are adapted to move the person, whois enveloped in the engagement zone, in a rocking movement from side toside by equivalently increasing and deceasing the bending of thegripping means.
 7. Arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein eachof said gripping means comprises a flexible and locally deformablecover, which is made of a pliable, flexible, inelastic material andwhich is activatable by means of a pressure medium and wherein the coveris provided with at least one longitudinal chamber, the volume of whichcan be respectively filled with said pressure medium and drained of saidpressure medium via an associated regulating means for adjusting theposition of the gripping means.
 8. Arrangement in accordance with claim7, wherein the cover of the gripping means is provided, in addition tosaid at least one longitudinal chamber for adjusting the degree ofbending of the gripping means, with a blade spring, which is adapted tolaterally reinforce the gripping means, and is further adapted to ensuremovement of the gripping means in a direction in a plane at right anglesto the blade spring.
 9. Arrangement in accordance with claim 8, whereinsaid blade spring has in an unloaded condition a substantiallyrectilinear outline and in a pressure medium loaded condition ispressure loaded to a bent outline against the inherent spring force ofthe blade spring.
 10. Arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein acover on each gripping means comprises an upper chamber and a lowerchamber, the upper chamber and the lower chamber are individuallyconnected to a source of pressure medium via an associated regulatingmeans, the upper chamber, which is permanently substantially filled withpressure medium, forms an air cushion layer of each gripping means, andthe lower chamber is adapted by means of the associated regulating meansto adjust the degree of bending of the gripping means.
 11. Arrangementin accordance with claim 6, wherein the regulating means are controlledby a microprocessor, and that the microprocessor is controlled by apressure sensor, which is connected to the gripping means at a supportsurface against the person.